Arizona House votes to repeal gun-free school zones

By staff and wire services reports

March 8th, 2012

The Republican-controlled Arizona House of Representatives has voted to repeal the state’s gun-free school zone laws, setting up a potential battle that only Gov. Jan Brewer (R) may be able to stop, the Huffington Post reports. The House on Tuesday night passed a bill to end the prohibition of guns within 1,000 feet of schools. The measure would allow anyone licensed to carry a concealed weapon to have a gun within the buffer. The bill passed with only Republican support, with all the House Democrats and several Republicans dissenting. It still needs passage in the Republican-controlled Senate and Brewer’s signature to become law. Proponents said that the law would make it easier for parents who carry guns keep them in their car to drive children to school or attend meetings. The gun couldn’t be brought into the school building.

“It makes a difference if I park next to a property or 1,000 feet away,” said state Rep. Jack Harper (R-Maricopa County) in an interview with HuffPost…